Hi Barry, The Prefetch folder is used by Windows XP to speed the boot process. Windows XP records information about each program that launches at boot and uses that information to boot faster the next time. Because multiple files might have the same name, it appends a "hash" of the file's location. That's the odd string of numbers and letters between the filename and the .pf extension. This folder may accumulate useless junk, especially if you change your configuration a lot. There's no harm in emptying it. Simply delete all the files in that folder; Windows will rebuild it as needed. HTH. Ibby Karbhari 226B Westbourne Park Road, London W11 1EP. Phone: 020 7243 0500 Mobile: 07799 768 771 . If you have Skype installed on your Pc You can also talk with me on Skype by clicking on, or adding, the username IbbyKarbhari Please Note there are no spaces in my name. E-Mail: ibbyk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.moving-mountains.com -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Barry Sent: 09 March 2006 16:51 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] prefetch Hi all Can anyone tell me what the folder 'prefetch' is and if these instructions are safe to do: To speed up shut down, you may want to clear out c:\windows\prefetch\*.* Just to make sure, by clear out, does it mean that I delete all the files in this folder? Thanks Barry H ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq